Towel dispensing time-stop mechanism



' R. GIQBIR 2,215,953 y,

I Sept. 24, 1940.

` TOWEL DIsPENsING TIME-s'rlsnmrsu Original Filed April v225, 11936 51.50 v i H6. l /49 Wilp I 'Zwak-Nava' Hfnkegopv Pupo/.PHG 51e/2 i Patented Sept;

froWEL e MECHANIsiviy 2,215,953 r e DisPENs'ING TIME-STOP v Rudolph dem, Lombara,'nl.,fassignr to ,Steiner Sales Company, Salt Lake' City, Utah,y a corpo'-A ration of Utahr Application Apriif'zs; 193s, seriaiNafvaoio Y Renewed March 1j, 1938 v2o claires. (01.1 271-231' This invention relates generally v:toimprovements in apparatusl for dispensing toweling and has` as a particular objectto provide a simple randeffective mechanism for timing an vintervalnbe- '5 ytween toweling dispensing operations, to avoid waste. The main feature ofv the invention lis the fline 31-43 of Figure 2,v ,.The inventionis embodiedin ldispensing cabinet but, of course, is applicable to ,any type of towel dispensing apparatus.

prmitdisbnsins: and. .v l

Figure `3 isa detail vertical section taken on I wall type towel V'ring rst to yIigure `1: The numeral I designates an outer casing provided with the usualgdoor 2.

dispensed at eachdispensing operation and for i l5 timing aninterval between dispensingoperations.

The invention may be applied to any type of device for dispensing toweling, either 'fromk a fabric or paper supply roll, or from-a supply stack of towels, or from a supply pile of paper sheets, either-folded or'fint'erfolded. It isfonl'y'necesfsary that some element vbe'niovedas a resultof dispensing, to,in turn,` control the mechanisrnfof this invention for interrupting towel deliverygandr ggrforcontinuing that interruption for a predeter-v y l mined time `period aftereach toweling'dis'pensing operation.l The invention is applicable either in the handpull-outtype offdispensing apparatus orr in'crank-operated or button-operated or other I types.` The inventionincludes a combined stop and timing mechanism per se, asV Well ras a timing deviceper se,v and the invention may be applied to f any type of toweldispensing apparatuswhich has an element `which is -moved or movable during or 85 asa result of towel dispensing. y

Insofar as I am'v aware, noone has constructed a device in-whicha vacuumI cup is Ycaused to asysume vacuum-attached' relation` to have vacuum-attaching force annulled at the end yof 40 a, predetermined timeperiodi l Features include allv details of construction,

along lwith the broader ideas' of means inherent in the disclosure; K y Objects',A features and advantages" offthe invention will be set forth` in the descriptionr ofthe i drawing iorminga part of this application, and in said drawing `Figure 1 Ais a( vertical,` transverse section of'a cabinet illustrating my time-stopmechanism, andv showing that mechanism in stop, positionlan'dr asf( during timing; l e

Figure`2 is a vdetailelevation partly in section, further illustrating the' 'time-'stop Vmechanism,

55 looking in direction indicated by the line v2-2 0f ment whichm'ovesfas a dispensing;

`The casing .has at. its bottom near the rearverti- -cal wall anjelongatedslot l3 upwardly throughl v which the toweling is drawn to be connected to a vsoiled towel roll 4.' The towelpasses over suitable smoothingvdevices, 5, `Ii, onl its way to the roll 4.' i i v The front edge of the bottom `1 ofthe casing I is spaced from the door to providean 'elongated passes froma pinch roll Ill. The towel supply is indicatedl at v`Iland the towel passes upwardly over -a'feed roll .I 'irandy between this..roll and the ,pinch rollv Ill, lthence downwardly. Practically y fthe .entire mechanism of the*y device Ain 'this instance is.mounted,onj what I call aI swing housing, .capablefof 'being swung. outwardly'to facilitate,intro'ductionpfthe fresh toweling and/or removal ,of soiledtoweling.. The housing is com- Figure '1, and showingfthe parts positioned to Refervslot!) downwardly through which the toweling" i posed of twosside'plates, one of which is indicated at I5 andthe feed roll,` I2 and the soiled toweling takefup roll Il are, of course, journaled 'in the sidegplates I5; f' The rolls 'I'21a`nd I1 arevdriven'iriA unison, at` the same rate by means-of "afchain' liliA Thefrpll- I2 has ay shaft k2l) which` extends outwardlythrough. the plate I5; asy best shown in Figure2.-` L

, 4`The previously described mechanism Imaybe of anyy preferred type, but vis herein similar to that shown inmy- `copending application V ior- Towel dispensing apparatus, Serial Number 15,271". Someiofl the parts nof vthe mechanism-now to be described-Kr are :also likeithat 'shown inthe above nientionedfapplication, and, oifcourseyare -not claimed per se herein,v but are claimed in'j the new combinationnow: to be'described. 1 f The inventionnof.A this application .essentially comprises a combined stop and timing mecha@ nism'-which is operated'in ythis instance as aresult of motion of `the-roll I2. yOf course,` the operation'` may, be 'f accomplished through any vele-l y result of or during towel'l on the end e of 'the shaft :zo at the outer side of rthe-plateI5iis-securedan arm 25 as-,a stop, having at its outer endva slight projection 26 cooperable with another stop 21 which has the form of a slide. This slide moves in a vertical slot 28 of side plate I5, and has an angled portion 29 which slides in a guide 30 formed between the inner side of the plate I5 and a plate 3| secured thereto, as shown in Figure 2. The slide stop 21 is provided with a lateral extension 35, and to this extension is pivoted a link 36 having a slot 31 through which passes a suitable pin 38, which is threaded into or otherwise secured to the arm 25. 'I'he slide stop has a lateral extension 40 upon which is supported a vacuum cup member 4I of rubber or other suitable material. This cup is secured in this instance, asshown in Figure 3, by a screw 39. 'Ihe cup proper is indicated at 42 and engages, in this instance, with'a sta` tionary plate or bracket 43 to assume-ar vacuumattached relation. The action of these vacuum cups is wellfrnown, and a strong adhering action is obtained, so that the cup cannot be easily detach'd except by some special kind of manipulation. In this embodiment, the vacuum action is annulled by gradually admitting air into what may be called the vacuum cham-ber defined by the cup 42 and the under surface 45 of the plate. Thus, means is provided by which the vacuum action is annulled at the end of a timed period, to permit the slide 21 to fall by gravity from its position shown in Figure 1 Vto the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. This motion from the position of Figure 1 is permitted by means of the slot 31 of the link, and it will be understood that the parts are so arranged and proportioned that the cup assumes the vacuum-attached relation of Figure 1 substantially when the pin 38 reaches its upper limit, or when it arrives at al position substantially diametrically opposite to the position shown in Figure 1. This position corresponds to about half a revolution of the shaft 20, or measuring roll I2, from the position shown in Figure 2. One length of toweling is delivered for each rotation of roll I2. The downwardmotion of the slide 21 is limited by engagement of the upper end of slot 31 with pin 36, see Figure 2. After this setting of the cup, the arm continues rotation to again assume the position `shown inr Figure 1,'-but at this time further rotation is prevented by engagement of arm 25 'with slide 21 in the manner shown in Figure 1; In'this instance, the cup is mounted on the slide, and although thisis the preferred structure, the invention is not altogether limited thereto.

The means for annulling the vacuum holding action, in `this, instance (see Figure 3), includes an inlet air paage 46 in an upright element 41 mounted on plate 43.v This passage is controlled by a valve `threaded as at 49 into theupright element 41. A suitable jam nut 5I) is threaded on the upper end of the screw and engages the top of the element 41,'and the screw has a screw driver slot 5I. Itj is understood that this automatic means for annulling vacuum action may be placed differently, and it is contemplated herein to `use any suitable means for the purpose of annulling this action, at the end of a time period. I intend to broadly claim the use of a vacuum cup for my purpose. lBy means of the screw, the time interval for release of the vacuum can be varied to suit. Y i

When I use the expressions vacuum cup and suction cup, I mean any device which can be moved toward and made to .contactwith any suitable surface or complementaryelement, and which adheres to this complementary element as a result of unequal` fluid pressures acting at opposite sides of the device. It isfurther understood that there lis no intention to limit the action only to the movement of the device because either the device or its complemental element may move or both may simultaneously move towards one another.

Further, I do not intend to limit the invention to the exact location of the air inlet passage as a means for obtaining annulment of the vacuumaction for release of the cup. I do not intend to be entirely limited to the method of air introduction for this purpose because other means may be used to release the cup. However, I prefer to use the airadmission scheme as the preferred scheme of obtaining release.

In order that automatic and free downward motion by gravity of the slide 21 may be assured, that is, in order to prevent detrimental frictional engagement of the 'arm 25 with the slide 31, after .impact of the arm 25 therewith, there is provided a disk 60, see Figure 2, arranged at the end of the roll I2 between the plate I5 and the roll. This disk has a peripheral shoulder' 6I, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, which engages a roller 62 pivoted to the lower end of an arm 63. This arm is, in-turn, pivoted at its upper end as at 64 to plate I5. This engagement takes place just before the extension 26 of arm 25 engages slide 31. The arm 63 is urged in clockwise direction by spring 66 and its movement in this direction is limited by pin 61. 'I'his structure also acts as a cushioning means to reduce the shock of impact between the stops 25 and 31.

After engagement of the shoulder 6I with the roller, the roller is pushed against spring action in anti-clockwise direction, and then the spring acts to push the roller in'clockwise vdirection to correspondingly cause the projection 26 to move in anti-clockwise direction to assume spaced relation relatively to the slide 21, as shown in Figure 1. T he operation is as follows: `The user pulls on the toweling at 53, thus rotating the roll I2 and shaft 20. The stop arm25 rotates in clockwise direction from. its position of Figure 2 ,(the slide 21 then being at its lowermost non-stop position) moving. across the motion path of the stop 21 to the position shown in Figure 1. The arm moves through an arc of 360, that is from the position shown in Figure 1 back to that position. 1 The slide 21 reaches its topmost positionl after the pinA 38. has moved through an arc of 180, and just before this arc of movement is completed the vacuum cup engages the plate to be secured thereto by vacuum action. The arm 25 then completes its rotation to position the pin 36 at the bottom of the slot, thus conditioning the link and slide 21 to promptly drop when the vacuum action of the cup is annulled, to permit the arm 26 to again movein clockwise direction when toweling is dispensed. Y

I claim as my invention: l

1. A towel dispensing apparatus having means which moves as a result of towel dispensing, a first stop movable by said means, a second stop movable into the path of .the first stop to limit dispensing motion of the-movable means, means by which the first stop moves the second to stop position and thereafter conditions it for inde-A pendent automatic motionto non-'stop position,

a vacuum cup carried bythe second stop and.

'l garages attaching action is annulledl to lobtain* release l of said vacuum-attaching action automatically v obtained.v A

2.-A towel dispensing apparatus'having means whichfmovesas al result vof, towel "dispensing, a ,Y

rst rotatable vstop; movable by said means, a

second stop slidable into the path4 of. theffirstlto limit dispensing motion vofjsthejinovablemeans,`vv a lation lto maintain stoppingacti'on offsaid stop a link by which theiirst stop moves Vthe second to `stop position and thereafterconditions it for independentautomatic motion to Vnon-'stopl posin tion and avacuumc'up carried by the second `stop,

and adapted to engage a stationary elemen'tfand assume vacuum-attached relation therewithto hold the secondstopv against motion to nonstop position', and means by which a timed annulment of said vacuum-attaching -action .is automatically obtai`r'ie`d-j .c i

'3. In a* tow'elfudispensing apparatus Lhaving means which moves as fareslt of 'towel-dispensing, a 'time stop mechanism 'for' a towel'dispe'nsving apparatus'controlledv by and controllingsaid movable means comprising, rstandsecond'independently movable stopsfengage'able withone another to limit dispensingfmotion of the movable means, means by whichthefrststop moves the second to stop position and.;thereafter conditions the'second stop for independent automatic motion vto non-stoppositi'on, afvaarcuuxn cup carried bythe' second stop and adapted to assume vacuum-attached',:relation with Aa s tationary surface, to hold said second stop against motion to non-stop position' and automatically acting means vby whicha timed annulment of saidv'acuum-attaching action' is obtained.- 4.- Atowel dispensing apparatus havingv an element which movesas'a resultV of towel dispensing, a time stop;mechanism'controlled by saidl element including a stop andy means by which it is moved tostop positionasfsaid.element moves as a resulty ofk towel dispensing landfis thereafter released for automatic motion to'non-s'top position, av vacuum cup controlled by said stopto assume vacuum-attachedv relation with a stationary surface when the stop is -moved to stop position to hold said stop in stop position, and

automatically acting means by which a timed annulment of the vacuum-attaching action of the cup is obtained.

5. A towel dispensing apparatus having an element which moves as a result'of towel dispensperiod. f

6'. A towel dispensing apparatus having means which moves 'as a result of towel dispensing, a time stop mechanism controlled by and controlling said means, a rst stop movable by said means, a second stop movable into the path of the first to limit dispensing motion vof the movable means, means by which the rst stop moves the second to stop position and thereafter conditions `it for independent automatic motion to non-stop position, a vacuum-attachable device including a vacuum cup controlled by the second stop and adapted to assume vacuum-attached relation as said movable means moves during= dispensing to thereafter hold the second stop in "stopping position, and means by kwhich vacuumofthe cupy at ltheend ora timed-pence.

In y @dispensing apparatus; a""dispensing means atimegstop mechanism operated by and controlling, thedispensing means, including a vacuum -attachable device enum-attached fremechanism, fand,,rmeans automatically. actingto annulrvacuum action kkofcsaid cup'to `obtain release thereof at the end, of `a1predetermin'ed time said cup to obtain releasethereof: at tl*1e endlof 94A,toweling dispensing "apparatus liaving a time stop mechanism controlledby and controlling a measuring roll'fincluding `rlrst'ancl second stops, theseeond of 4which 4is-disposed to promptly fall by gravity y,to'non-stop position, a pair of element lto stop position, mansbywh'ich the measuring roll moves 'said`r` stop #to stop position vand. thereafter releases it for-"falllby gravityto `non-,stop zposit'ion, and` means vautomatically op- L eratingito annui the'vacuum-attaching. action .to per-mit gravity motio'nfof the second stop to nonstop'position."v y j y10; Inga dispensing vapparatus, feeding means, and. 'means preventing action ,of said Vfeeding means for'a predetermined time period following feeding operation,'of'said means'said action-preventing-means including separable parts which are brought together as'v a result f of dispensing V'movement of said dispensing means, and areand `must be held together during said timing period,

one of said parts being 4a vacuum cup,`and means by which vacuum-attaching action of said cup is automatically annulled. at the end'of a predetermined time period. V

11. yA sheet dispensingapparatus, having a stop mechanism, and a timer therefor,v including elements' which are brought into contacting relation as dispensing occurs and which remain in that relation during the timing period, and means lfor automatically causing one of said timer elements to be suddenly released at the end of that period to release thestop mechanism.

12. Ina sheet dispensing apparatus "having a stop mechanism, a timer controlling said stop mechanism, includingV engageable elements, means operated by dispensing for causing one of the timer elements to engage the other and means by which said 'elements remain yengaged and immovableduring timing and are suddenly automatically disengaged only at the end of timing period to release the stop mechanism.

l ,-8.V`.A`toWel. dispensing apparatus having atime I stop mechanism controlled byand controlling a` c measuringV roll, inoludingwa svacuumattachable device, .having a -vacuum cup which 'iis ycausedy to 1`,assume vacuum-attached relation `:tomaintain stopping action of -saidimechanism and means automatically acting to annul-,vacu'um actionoff 13. A time-stop mechanism comprising two v stops, one of which is movable into and out of the path of the other, a vacuum cup controlled by one of the stops to assume vacuum attached and immovable relationA with an immovable member when that stop is in the stopping path of the other to holdksaid stop also immovable,

and means by which the vacuum is automatically annulled at the end of a predetermined time V period. y

14. A sheet material dispensing device having a measuring roll, a time-stop mechanism including a pair of members adapted rto be -vacuumconnected when pressed together as aresult of roll motion, means operated by the roll for causing said members to be pressed together to hold l l a measuring roll, a time-stop mechanism includinga pair of members adapted to be vacuumconnected When pressed together as a result of roll motion, means operated by the roll for causing said members to be pressed together to hold the stop mechanism in stop position, and means automatically operable to annul vacuum action and release said members at the end of a time period to permit roll motion, one of'said members being adapted after release to fall by gravity to permit such motion.` I

16. A time-stop mechanism comprising two stops, the second. movable into and out of the path of the rst, a timer including two members, one of which isA carried by the second stop to be moved by that stop into engagement with the other member during movement of the second stop `to stop position, means for holdingy said members so engaged during a time period, and means for causing the holding means to release the members at the end of a time period.

17. A dispensing device having` dispensing means, a stopmechanism controlled by and controlling said means and including rst and second stops, the second stop movable into andout of the path of the rsta timing mechanism having a rst part movable with the second stop, and a second part engageable by the first part as dispensing occurs'and adapted to remain lmmovably engaged, and means to cause release of said parts at the end of a time period. A

18. A dispensing cabinetV having means by which the accessibility of sheet material is controlled, a timer mechanism comprising two members which become vacuum attached when brought together, means by which the vacuum isl lsame that more material is made accessible.

19. A dispensing cabinet for sheet material having first means which must movey if sheet material is to be made accessible, and means for preventing motion of saidrst means for a predetermined time in'tervaLincluding a vacuum-attachable member whichwhen vacuum-attached prevents motion of vthe aforesaid first means, means for .annulling vacuum-attaching action of ,saidy member at the end of a time period; and means for moving said member to vacuum attached position, the action-,of said vacuum-attachable member being characterized by the fact I that it does not movedliring the time interval.

20. A dispensing roll having a rst stop which rotates therewith, a second stop guided for independent linear motion and which is normally out of the path of said first stop, a pair of elements, one stationary and onecarried by the second stop, one o1' said elements being a vacuum cup normally spaced from the other element, said elements adapted to become vacuum-attached during motion of the second stop into the path of the first stop, means carried by one of the elements for admitting air therebetween fonannulling the vacuum at the end of a predetermined time period, and means vby which the dispensing roll moves said second stop into the stopping path of the rst stop and thereafter releases said second stop for independent movement out of the path of the rst stop. 

